Children&#39;s hooded jacket and method of converting same into a pillow

ABSTRACT

The method includes: placing the jacket face down on a surface; tucking the sleeves adjacent the jacket body; folding portions of the back with the tucked sleeves over the front of the body; rolling the bottom portion of the body with the folded portions towards the hood; inserting the rolled body into the hood recess; and closing the hood recess with the rolled jacket body inside the hood by connecting the parts of a two-part fastener to form the pillow. Buttons and zipper fasteners may be used. Straps extending from the body may be connected to form a handle or a shoulder strap. An image may be placed on the exterior surface of the hood.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to children's clothing and more particularly to a children's hooded jacket which can be converted into a pillow.

2. Description of Prior Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

As far as applicant is aware, there are no children's hooded jackets which can be rolled and received in the recess of a hood, for use as a pillow. Further, there are no pillows formed by applicant's method which include a shoulder strap which allow the pillow to be carried in the same manner as a handbag.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a prime object of the present invention to provide a children's hooded jacket which can be converted into a pillow;

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for converting a children's hooded jacket into a pillow.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of converting a children's hooded jacket into a pillow by rolling the body of the jacket and inserting the rolled jacket into a recess in the hood.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of converting a children's hooded jacket into a pillow in which the hood recess is closed to completely enclose the rolled jacket in the hood.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of converting a children's hooded jacket into a pillow in which the pillow is provided with a strap such that it can be carried like a handbag.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a children's hooded jacket with a two-part fastener, one part of which is attached to the edge of the hood and the other part is attached to the back of the jacket body.

The above objects are achieved by the present invention which relates to a method of converting a children's hooded jacket into a pillow. The jacket is of the type having a body with a collar to which the hood is attached. The body has outwardly extending sleeves. Two-part fastening means is provided. One part of the fastening means is attached to the hood proximate the edge of the hood. The other part of the fastening means is attached to the back of the jacket. The hood defines a recess.

The method includes the steps of: placing the jacket face down on a surface; tucking the sleeves adjacent the body; folding portions of the body with the adjacent sleeves over the body; rolling the bottom portion of the body with the folded portions towards the hood; inserting the rolled body into the hood recess; and attaching the parts of the fastener means together to enclose the rolled jacket within the hood recess to form a pillow.

The jacket has a first strap with an unattached end and a second strap with an unattached end. The method further includes connecting the unattached ends of the straps together to form a shoulder strap.

The first strap section has one part of a connector fixed on an unattached end. The second strap section has another part of a connector fixed to an unattached end. The method further comprises the step of joining the connector parts to create the strap.

The method further includes applying an image to the exterior surface of the hood.

In one preferred embodiment, the two-part fastening means includes at least one series of button and at least on button-receiving loop. In that embodiment, the method includes the step of inserting the button into the button-receiving loop to enclose the rolled body in the hood.

In a second preferred embodiment, the two-part fastening means comprises a zipper including two zipper tracks. In that embodiment, the method further includes the step of aligning the zipper tracks and moving the zipper clasp to connect the zipper tracks.

In accordance with another object of the present invention, a children's jacket including a collar, a hood attached to the collar, the hood defining a recess and having an edge at least a portion of which is spaced from the collar, and two-part fastener means, one part of the fastener means being attached to the hood proximate the portion of the hood edge spaced from the collar, and the other part of the fastener means parts being attached to the back of the jacket such that attaching the fastening means parts together encloses the hood recess.

In one preferred embodiment, the fastening means includes at least one button and at least one button-receiving loop.

In a second preferred embodiment, the fastening means includes a zipper with first and second tracks a clasp. The track of the zipper attached to the back of the jacket has a generally “U” shape.

The jacket includes a first strap with an unattached end and a second strap with an unattached end. Connecting the unattached ends of the straps together forms a shoulder strap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

To these and to such other objects that may hereinafter appears, the present invention relates to a method of converting a children's jacket into a pillow as described in detail in the following specification and recited in the annexed claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the children's hooded jacket of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the jacket of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the jacket of FIG. 1 with the sleeves tucked adjacent the opposite sides of the back of the jacket body;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the jacket of FIG. 1 with portions of the back with the jacket body adjacent the tucked sleeves folded over the front of the jacket, and ready to be rolled;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the jacket of FIG. 1 as it is being rolled;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the hood of the jacket of FIG. 1 with the rolled jacket inserted before the buttons are inserted in to the loops;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the hood of FIG. 6 with the rolled jacket inserted, after the buttons have been inserted in to the loops to form the pillow;

FIG. 8 is a rear elevation view of the children's hooded jacket of the second preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the hood of FIG. 8 with the rolled jacket inserted, after the zipper tracks have been connected.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method of converting a children's hooded jacket into a pillow. FIGS. 1 through 7 illustrate the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, the jacket includes a body with a front 10, a back 12, a collar 14 and a hood 16 integral with or permanently attached to the jacket body at collar 14. Oppositely directed sleeves 18, 20 extend outwardly from the jacket body.

As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, at least one and preferably a series of spaced buttons 22 are located in the vicinity of collar 14 on the back 12 of the jacket.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, at least one and preferably a series of spaced button-receiving loops 28 extend from the edge of the hood within a section 29 of the edge of the hood that is spaced from the collar. As explained below, one loop 28 is provided for and will align with a different one of the buttons 22 on the back of the jacket when the body of the jacket is received within the hood to form the pillow. Hood 16 defines a recess 26.

Starting with the jacket situated on a surface with the front facing up, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the jacket is turned over such that it is face down on the surface. The sleeves 18, 20 are in the extended potion, as shown in FIG. 2.

The sleeves are each tucked adjacent to the back of the jacket, at each side thereof, as seen in FIGS. 3. The jacket is then turned over such that the front faces up and the portions of the back, with the tucked sleeves, are then each folded over the front of the jacket, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 4.

Next, the bottom of the jacket is rolled up tightly as illustrated in FIG. 5 and inserted into recess 26 of hood 16. FIG. 6 shows the hood with the rolled jacket inside before the hood recess is closed by the buttons. Buttons 22 are then inserted into button-receiving loops 28 to fully enclose the rolled jacket in order to form the pillow, as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 also shows strap sections 30, 32 which extend from the jacket, preferably the inside of the hood area. The unattached end of each of the strap sections carries one part of a two-part connector 34. When the parts of connector 34 are connected, as seen in FIG. 7, the strap sections form a continuous strap which may be used as a handle to carry the pillow or may be used as a shoulder strap to carry the pillow like a handbag.

Because jacket is designed for use by children, an image may be placed on the exterior of the hood. The drawings illustrate one possible image 36 in the form of a fanciful animal face. Ear-like appendages 38 extending from the hood may be provided, as well.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the second preferred embodiment of the present invention. The second preferred embodiment of the invention is essentially the same as the first preferred embodiment, and the method of converting the second preferred embodiment into a pillow is essentially the same as that of the first preferred embodiment. The difference is that the fastening means is different. In the second preferred embodiment the button and button-receiving loops are replaced with a zipper.

More specifically, buttons-receiving loops 28 on the edge of the hood are replace by a first track or chain of zipper teeth 24 a and the buttons 22 on the back of the jacket are replaced with a “U” shaped mating track or chain of zipper teeth 24 b. A zipper pull 40 is situated on track 24 a to close and open the zipper in a conventional manner.

FIG. 9 shows the pillow formed after the sleeves are tucked and the body of the jacket is rolled and inserted into the hood, the zipper tracks or chains 24 a and 24 b are aligned and slider 40 is moved from one side of the zipper to the other to close the zipper.

While only a limited number of preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that many modifications and variations could be made thereto. For example two-part fastener means other than buttons and zippers could be used, for examples, hook and eye, hook and loop fastener ribbon strips could be used. It is intended to cover all of those modifications and variations which fall within the scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims: 

I claim:
 1. A method of converting a children's hooded jacket into a pillow, the jacket being of the type having a body with a collar to which the hood is connected, sleeves extending from the jacket body, two-part fastening means, one part of which is attached to the hood proximate the edge of the hood and the other part is attached to the back of the body, and wherein the hood defines a recess, the method comprising the steps of: a. placing the jacket face down on a surface; b. tucking the selves adjacent the body; c. folding portions of the body with the adjacent sleeves over the body; d. rolling the bottom portion of the body with the folded portions towards the hood; e. inserting the rolled body into the hood recess; and f. attaching the parts of the fastener means together to enclose the rolled jacket within the hood recess.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the two-part fastening means comprises at least one button and at least one button-receiving loop, further comprising the step of inserting the button into the button-receiving loop.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the two-part fastening means comprises a zipper including two zipper tracks and a clasp, and further comprising the step of aligning the second zipper tracks and moving the zipper clasp to connect the zipper tracks.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the jacket has a first strap with an unattached end and a second strap with an unattached end, and wherein the method further comprises the step of connecting the unattached ends of the straps together to form a handle or shoulder strap.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of applying an image to the exterior surface of the hood.
 6. A children's jacket comprising a collar, a hood attached to said collar, said hood defining a recess and having an edge at least a portion of which is spaced from said collar, and two-part fastener means, one part of said fastener means being attached to said hood proximate said edge portion of said hood edge, and the other part of said fastener means parts being attached to the back of said jacket such that attaching said fastening means together encloses said hood recess.
 7. The jacket of claim 6 wherein said fastening means comprises one or more buttons and one or more button-receiving loops.
 8. The jacket of claim 6 wherein said fastening means comprises a zipper.
 9. The jacket of claim 8 wherein the part of the zipper attached to the back of the jacket has a generally “U” shape.
 10. The jacket of claim 6 the jacket comprising a first strap with an unattached end and a second strap with an unattached end, and wherein connecting the unattached ends of the straps together form a handle or shoulder strap. 